Intercontinental Cup: Scotland staring down of huge defeat against Ireland

Ireland are closing in on an innings victory after the third day of their Intercontinental Cup clash with Scotland.

Last Updated: 13/09/13 8:29pm

Paul Stirling: Top-scored for Ireland with 65 on day three

The hosts were dismissed for 350 in their first innings at Clontarf before reducing Scotland to 143-8 in their second innings, leaving Preston Mommsen's side still trailing by 69 runs.

Max Sorensen destroyed the Scots' top order, taking 4-32 runs as Scotland's second batting effort started as badly as their first.

Scotland were struggling to see out the third day's play on 41-6 but before Majid Haq (31 not out) and Safyaan Sharif (60) stopped the rot.

Ireland started in the morning on 99-1 after a rain-affected second day and both John Anderson (56) and Paul Stirling (65) knocked up half-centuries in a steady display from the home side.

Haq (4-69) and Moneeb Iqbal (4-68) gave Scotland hope, although that did not last long as Sorensen set about them.

Hamish Gardiner followed his first-innings duck with a score of six, and his fellow opener Freddie Coleman experienced the ignominy of a no-score.

The four batsmen who fell to Sorensen scored a combined 10 runs, with Mommsen (3) and Calum MacLeod (1) also victims of the South African-born seamer.

But Sharif again top-scored for Scotland, adding a half-century to his first-innings total of 41, before being caught out by a fantastic full-length left-handed catch by Ireland captain William Porterfield.